The show’s not scheduled til June 2022, so the Boston Gay Men’s Chorus has a year to plan, prep and rehearse for it. But it’s big news now that Boston’s 200-voice strong ensemble is partnering with Disney Concerts to produce “Disney PRIDE in Concert,” featuring all-new musical arrangements of Disney classic songs to be performed at Boston Symphony Hall next June 25–26, 2022. (That’s 2022, so don’t show up for a seat this week!)
This collaboration, with its new arrangements and a book cowritten by BGMC Executive Producer Bill Casey, is a first for Disney Concerts: Disney’s never before partnered with any organization to create an LGBTQ-specific concert package. And after the show’s BGMC premiere, it will be licensed to other choruses to perform all over the world.
“Disney movies and musicals have long resonated deeply in the LGBTQ community because they often mirror our experiences in a society that hasn’t always welcomed us,” said BGMC’s Music Director Reuben M. Reynolds, III in a press release.
“Characters are often struggling to fit in and to accept themselves, they long for a love that feels unattainable, they’ve lost their family of origin and had to create a new one, yet they persevere and find joy in life. They express their alienation, desire, and determination in beautiful songs that have given solace and empowerment to generations of LGBTQ people. Naturally, we’re overjoyed at the chance to make the thematic connections between the Disney canon and the LGBTQ experience explicit by infusing the music with the stories of our lives,” Reynolds said.
Says the press release:
The show will draw inspiration from iconic Disney films like The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, and Mary Poppins; modern classics like Coco, Zootopia, and Wreck-It Ralph; and the magical music of Disney Parks.
The multimedia extravaganza will feature BGMC’s 250-member chorus and a 20-piece orchestra performing sparkling new musical arrangements by BGMC Assistant Music Director Chad Weirick, accompanied by visuals designed by BGMC Director of Video Michael Willer using assets from Disney’s films and archives.
Providing the narrative of the show, personal stories from an array of diverse chorus members will be interwoven throughout the musical performances, showcasing the individual meaning and connections drawn from Disney’s timeless and universal music. …
Tickets will go on-sale via the Boston Gay Men’s Chorus in early 2022.
For more, and all things BGMC, visit bgmc.org.
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